SERIES
Sojourn: Toward an Enduring City
2017-02-19T08:00:00-06:00
5:1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” 5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. 6 The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.
7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” 9 But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright (c)2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. http://www.esv.org
Ours is a culture fixated on what is seen. We encounter an endless stream of images each day. We have the ability to capture, edit, and share dozens of pictures instantly on our phones. And this weekend, Academy Awards will be presented to those considered the most skilled storytellers of our day, and who tell their stories on screens.
In this passage, Peter focuses our attention on what others see when they look at us. First, he reveals the human tendency to focus on what is external, and our reciprocal tendency to adorn our external appearance (v. 3). While Peter’s analysis is wise, it isn’t necessarily unique; all kinds of thoughtful people are able to discern our narcissistic obsession with external beauty.
What is unique and amazing in this passage is what Peter reveals next: that God sees what no one else sees: “the hidden person of the heart (v. 4).” While man can see certain evidences what is hidden, God sees, understands, and evaluates all that is in our heart (vv. 2-4). At times, the Bible cites this truth to celebrate justice (1 Samuel 16:6-7). At other times, it portrays this truth as a means of comfort (Psalm 139:1-6). But in this passage, Peter reminds us that God sees our hearts in order to rebuke and reorient us.
Because God sees, understands, and evaluates our hearts, Peter commands us to turn away from adorning our bodies and towards adorning our hearts. For women, Peter encourages a heart adorned by gentleness and quiet, leading to loving submission (vv. 4-6). For men, Peter encourages a heart adorned by honor and prayer, leading to loving understanding (v. 7). If you know your heart, you know these commands are as counter-intuitive as any of the biblical commands, and are particularly counter-cultural in our day.
But like all of God’s commands, there is wisdom, life, and freedom in this command to adorn the hidden person of our heart. And when we walk in the ways of God’s commands, our fixation on what is seen by man grows strangely hollow, and our love for God and what God sees grows strangely holy. As Psalm 119:127 says, “I love your commandments above gold, above fine gold.”